The Suns ... Undone
Well, 2007 ended with the Suns exiting the playoffs in the 2nd round to the perennial playoff power San Antonio.
I felt, and many with me, that this was the year the Suns had an excellent chance of winning it all. Of course, as has happened before, when the Suns have a great team there always seems to be a better team or several teams just as talented. In '93, it was the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. 2 years ago, it was the Spurs. Last year, it was the Dallas Mavericks.
This year the top tier teams included the Spurs, Mavericks, and Pistons. At times, the Jazz seemed to be in that tier as well. I felt, and still feel, that the Suns had the team to beat them all, but once again it didn't happen.
Why didn't they beat the Spurs?
1. The Spurs didn't beat themselves, but the Suns did.
If you watch the Spurs long enough, you get impressed (or frustrated) by the fact that these guys don't often beat themselves. They limit their own turnovers, are competitive on the boards, and take high percentage shots. They understand that the game is played over 48 minutes, and the series are often won over 7 games.
After game 1, I thought the key for the Suns to win was to be close of the boards. The Suns were killed on the boards in that game, and they barely lost. In game 2, with Kurt playing significant minutes, they played close on the boards and won in a blow out. The rest of series, however, the Spurs succeeded by generating turnovers and taking high percentage shots.
The Suns beat themselves by the uncharacteristically high turnovers, poor shooting at key points, defensive lapses and the leaving the bench incident in Game 4.
2. The Spur adjusted better than the Suns.
Another thing that occurred to me watching this series was how it was a series of adjustments. Again in Game 1, the Spurs killed us on the boards, and Parker scorched the Suns. So, the Suns adjusted by playing Kurt Thomas more minutes, and having Marion play primary defense on Parker. It worked brilliantly and the Suns demolished the Spurs to even the series. So, the ball was back in the Spurs court. What would they or could they do?
They responded by harassing Nash more with Bowen and Parker, and becoming more physical (remember knee to the groin?). The increased pressure probably had a lot to do with Nash having an off game, and the Suns had a high number of turnovers. Compounded was the fact that they also missed a number of easy shots and a higher than normal number of free throws. They could have overcome any 1 of those, but all of them was too much.
In game 4, the ball was in the Suns court. They seemed to not do much adjusting until late in the game, if at all when they made a tremendous comeback to win the game. Whether it was a mental lapse by the Spurs, or a reduction in mistakes by the Suns, the result swung in the Suns favor. Then, whether it was intended that way or not, the infamous hip-check ended up being a major adjustment. It robbed the Suns of a great, meaningful and momentum grabbing game by causing the loss of two of the top Suns players. How could the Suns adjust with that loss?
In game 5, the Suns adjusted nicely, fueled by a different line-up, a crazed home crowd, and a nothing to lose attitude they steamrolled the Spurs early racing to a 16 point lead. Unfortunately, the Spurs adjusted to what the Suns were doing differently which combined with the physical strain of playing excessive minutes on the starters allowed them to steal it back in the final minutes of the game.
In game 6, at full strength, the Suns were not able to adjust to what the Spurs were doing until it was too late.
The series exposed the fact that the Spurs were able to figure out a way to slow the main things that the Suns liked to do. It was up to the Suns to show them something different to keep the off balance. They just didn't do it. In a way, I was excited to see what the Suns would do in Game 5 without depending on Amare and Diaw. The results stunned the world for 40+ minutes, but not me. What stunned me was that D'Antoni did not play more of the bench and allowed his guys to get worn out. He was basically saying that his 6 guys, dead tired, was better than his bench. That cost them the game.
Anyway, that aside, the Suns showed they could be successful with Marion playing the 4 spot and needing to score points. I have felt for some time that Marion is amazing in getting his points from an offense not set up to get him opportunities. There is no reason Marion couldn't run the pick and roll with Nash. There is no reason why you can't run some plays to get Marion open near the basket for his amazingly quick jumps. If the Spurs adjust to that, then switch to something else. In Game 5, that might have been Jalen Rose posting up, Banks driving, or Piatkowski coming off of some screens for an open jumpshot.
If you go to the well too often they will figure out a way to stop (or reduce) your effectiveness. I believed the Spurs did just that, and the Suns ran out of ideas.
Conclusion, those 2 reasons were the difference. Still all of the games were close, except for Game 2. The ball bounces better for the Suns a time or two, and they could have easily have won the series, and people would have been sitting around opining on why the Spurs are washed up, need to scrap the team, and rebuild.
What a joke?!?!
Thus is sports. If your team wins, it is like they will never lose another game. If they lose, it is like they will never win another game.
It has been part humorous, and part frustrating reading comments and blogs about the Suns. During the series, it was a different tone all together. Now, it is all doom and gloom. The Suns could have won the series, but they didn't.
Once again it reminds me of:
And you know what, there is always next year. It doesn't matter if you win it all, there is always next year - the ultimate sports paradox. When is enough, enough? In sports, enough is never enough, because there is always next year.
Until then, the losers will be perplexed with how they lost, and the winners will be giving themselves more credit than they deserve.
Ultimately, you can't rest in the end result. You need to enjoy the process. As a sports fan, you need to enjoy the game and the effort. That is why I enjoy the Suns. I like watching them play. I would enjoy watching them play if they had a losing record. Unfortunately, I too get caught up in the looking for the end result.
Oh well, there is always next year ;-)
I felt, and many with me, that this was the year the Suns had an excellent chance of winning it all. Of course, as has happened before, when the Suns have a great team there always seems to be a better team or several teams just as talented. In '93, it was the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. 2 years ago, it was the Spurs. Last year, it was the Dallas Mavericks.
This year the top tier teams included the Spurs, Mavericks, and Pistons. At times, the Jazz seemed to be in that tier as well. I felt, and still feel, that the Suns had the team to beat them all, but once again it didn't happen.
Why didn't they beat the Spurs?
1. The Spurs didn't beat themselves, but the Suns did.
If you watch the Spurs long enough, you get impressed (or frustrated) by the fact that these guys don't often beat themselves. They limit their own turnovers, are competitive on the boards, and take high percentage shots. They understand that the game is played over 48 minutes, and the series are often won over 7 games.
After game 1, I thought the key for the Suns to win was to be close of the boards. The Suns were killed on the boards in that game, and they barely lost. In game 2, with Kurt playing significant minutes, they played close on the boards and won in a blow out. The rest of series, however, the Spurs succeeded by generating turnovers and taking high percentage shots.
The Suns beat themselves by the uncharacteristically high turnovers, poor shooting at key points, defensive lapses and the leaving the bench incident in Game 4.
2. The Spur adjusted better than the Suns.
Another thing that occurred to me watching this series was how it was a series of adjustments. Again in Game 1, the Spurs killed us on the boards, and Parker scorched the Suns. So, the Suns adjusted by playing Kurt Thomas more minutes, and having Marion play primary defense on Parker. It worked brilliantly and the Suns demolished the Spurs to even the series. So, the ball was back in the Spurs court. What would they or could they do?
They responded by harassing Nash more with Bowen and Parker, and becoming more physical (remember knee to the groin?). The increased pressure probably had a lot to do with Nash having an off game, and the Suns had a high number of turnovers. Compounded was the fact that they also missed a number of easy shots and a higher than normal number of free throws. They could have overcome any 1 of those, but all of them was too much.
In game 4, the ball was in the Suns court. They seemed to not do much adjusting until late in the game, if at all when they made a tremendous comeback to win the game. Whether it was a mental lapse by the Spurs, or a reduction in mistakes by the Suns, the result swung in the Suns favor. Then, whether it was intended that way or not, the infamous hip-check ended up being a major adjustment. It robbed the Suns of a great, meaningful and momentum grabbing game by causing the loss of two of the top Suns players. How could the Suns adjust with that loss?
In game 5, the Suns adjusted nicely, fueled by a different line-up, a crazed home crowd, and a nothing to lose attitude they steamrolled the Spurs early racing to a 16 point lead. Unfortunately, the Spurs adjusted to what the Suns were doing differently which combined with the physical strain of playing excessive minutes on the starters allowed them to steal it back in the final minutes of the game.
In game 6, at full strength, the Suns were not able to adjust to what the Spurs were doing until it was too late.
The series exposed the fact that the Spurs were able to figure out a way to slow the main things that the Suns liked to do. It was up to the Suns to show them something different to keep the off balance. They just didn't do it. In a way, I was excited to see what the Suns would do in Game 5 without depending on Amare and Diaw. The results stunned the world for 40+ minutes, but not me. What stunned me was that D'Antoni did not play more of the bench and allowed his guys to get worn out. He was basically saying that his 6 guys, dead tired, was better than his bench. That cost them the game.
Anyway, that aside, the Suns showed they could be successful with Marion playing the 4 spot and needing to score points. I have felt for some time that Marion is amazing in getting his points from an offense not set up to get him opportunities. There is no reason Marion couldn't run the pick and roll with Nash. There is no reason why you can't run some plays to get Marion open near the basket for his amazingly quick jumps. If the Spurs adjust to that, then switch to something else. In Game 5, that might have been Jalen Rose posting up, Banks driving, or Piatkowski coming off of some screens for an open jumpshot.
If you go to the well too often they will figure out a way to stop (or reduce) your effectiveness. I believed the Spurs did just that, and the Suns ran out of ideas.
Conclusion, those 2 reasons were the difference. Still all of the games were close, except for Game 2. The ball bounces better for the Suns a time or two, and they could have easily have won the series, and people would have been sitting around opining on why the Spurs are washed up, need to scrap the team, and rebuild.
What a joke?!?!
Thus is sports. If your team wins, it is like they will never lose another game. If they lose, it is like they will never win another game.
It has been part humorous, and part frustrating reading comments and blogs about the Suns. During the series, it was a different tone all together. Now, it is all doom and gloom. The Suns could have won the series, but they didn't.
Once again it reminds me of:
As frustrating as that is for sports fans, that is what they need to realize.Ecclesiastes 9:11 (New King James Version)
11 I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
And you know what, there is always next year. It doesn't matter if you win it all, there is always next year - the ultimate sports paradox. When is enough, enough? In sports, enough is never enough, because there is always next year.
Until then, the losers will be perplexed with how they lost, and the winners will be giving themselves more credit than they deserve.
Ultimately, you can't rest in the end result. You need to enjoy the process. As a sports fan, you need to enjoy the game and the effort. That is why I enjoy the Suns. I like watching them play. I would enjoy watching them play if they had a losing record. Unfortunately, I too get caught up in the looking for the end result.
Oh well, there is always next year ;-)
posted by A Forgiven Man at
8:21 PM
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